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6 therapists available in Pittsburgh
As someone who has struggled with my own mental health, my approach is always to meet everyone exactly where they are to serve as ...
About
As someone who has struggled with my own mental health, my approach is always to meet everyone exactly where they are to serve as their GPS to help guide them along on their own personal journey.
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with 7 years of experience supporting individuals through personal, emotional, and life-transition challenges. I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum concerns, and adjustment to life-altering medical diagnoses or transplants. My background includes work in enhanced outpatient settings and individual therapy, treating a wide range of diagnoses and clinical presentations. I believe therapy is a collaborative journey, and I strive to create a supportive space where clients feel understood, empowered, and guided toward meaningful change.
I earned my master’s in clinical mental health counseling from California University of Pennsylvania. My approach is client-centered and tailored to each individual’s unique needs, strengths, and goals.
Taking the first step toward therapy and inviting someone into your personal thoughts and experiences can feel overwhelming. I understand how important it is to find a therapist who feels like the right fit. If you are seeking compassionate guidance and a collaborative therapeutic relationship, I would be honored to support you on your journey forward.
Education and training
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I have dedicated my career development towards understanding and helping my clients....
I have dedicated my career development towards understanding and helping my clients.
Brenda Slagle is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania with over 6 years of experience. Brenda specializes in treating clients with complex PTSD, major depression, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, social anxiety, bipolar, and others.
She completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master's degree in Professional Counseling from Carlow University. Brenda strives to create a non-judgmental space to examine the past to inform how patterns have developed. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy (SFT), and strengths-based approaches.
Brenda will provide genuine empathy and support while you work together to find one's purpose and authentic self. Team up with her to start managing and mitigating your mental health conditions and concerns. Brenda looks forward to sharing her experience and expertise with you—one session at a time.
As a conscientious and understanding therapist with varied life experience, I am uniquely suited to address various client needs a...
As a conscientious and understanding therapist with varied life experience, I am uniquely suited to address various client needs and struggles
Michael Moriarty is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania who has over 8 years of experience working with adults and adolescents on a wide range of mental health struggles relating to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, substance abuse, relationship difficulties, and grief and trauma-related issues. His area of specialty is working with drug and alcohol addictions. He approaches therapy from a client-centered, collaborative perspective where he works alongside clients as they navigate their issues and gain greater insight into their own capacity for growth. He is also a nationally certified counselor.
Michael holds Master's degrees in Science Education from Lehman College and in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Duquesne University. He uses cognitive behavioral and trauma-informed approaches to assist clients in working through problem areas and gaining an increased capacity for life satisfaction.
Michael has a variety of personal life experiences that make him well suited to address his clients needs. He understands the complexity of human psychology and the fundamental need for personal connection that individuals hold and this enables him to provide a personal and unique perspective to assist clients with their struggles.
I believe in having real conversations, working together, and helping you create a life that feels good inside and out....
I believe in having real conversations, working together, and helping you create a life that feels good inside and out.
Shannon Brown is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 13 years of experience supporting individuals of all ages, including children, adults, veterans, and those navigating mental health crises. Their warm, collaborative, and goal-focused approach helps clients explore challenges, build on strengths, and move toward more manageable and fulfilling lives. Shannon meets clients where they are and walks alongside them toward meaningful change.
Shannon holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gannon University and has extensive experience in crisis care. They tailor each session to client needs, offering a grounded, collaborative space that supports personal growth, emotional resilience, and healing.
Life can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Shannon provides a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel understood, be your authentic self, and begin to make sense of what’s going on. If you’re ready to take the first step, Shannon is here to support you with care and compassion.
Dzana Saynes is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with over 25 years of experience helping adult clients who are coping with...
Dzana Saynes is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with over 25 years of experience helping adult clients who are coping with ADHD/trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic stress, difficult life transitions, anger management, and more.
Dzana earned her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She is from Lithuania originally and immigrated to the US in 2004 with her son. She always had a dream to meet her family in the U.S. As a therapist, she loves to provide a non-judgmental and safe environment to talk about family issues. Dzana utilizes a multicultural counseling approach that is integrated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solutions-focused, person-centered, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment, and existential therapy approaches.
Dzana's belief is that a unique approach to life changes and personal difficulties can be accomplished through cooperative engagements toward improving or making powerful changes in your unique life situations. She specializes in helping clients to improve interpersonal skills, reduce symptoms of mental health conditions, develop better cognitive and emotional skills, and improve self-esteem. She also holds special certifications in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
Holly Blass is Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who works with her clients by meeting them at their pace and need level to ac...
Holly Blass is Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who works with her clients by meeting them at their pace and need level to achieve their personal goals, decrease negative symptoms, improve interpersonal relationships, and increase quality of life. Holly has 7 years of experience in the mental health field.
Holly completed her Master of Arts (MA) in Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy at Kutztown University. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma focused CBT, ecosystemic structural family therapy, and techniques developed by the Gottman Institute. Holly incorporates a trauma informed approach to help facilitate a feeling of safety, trust, and build a strong therapeutic alliance with each of her clients.
Holly works to help her clients feel empowered, even in their vulnerability, and help them regain control over their own narrative to make lasting positive change. She acknowledges the possible hesitation behind initiating and maintaining change, and works to understand her clients and meet them with flexibility.
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My go-to approach for helping people in PTSD/trauma therapy is to start where they are, meaning what prompted them to come to therapy, and discuss how it's affecting their daily functioning. My style is eclectic, so I prefer to adapt my methods to meet their needs, and this changes as therapy progresses. This allows for continued progress as the client's needs change. If they are in need of a specialized treatment that I do not provide, such as EMDR, I will help connect them to another provider for that treatment method.
These are some of the tools or coping skills that I teach in trauma therapy:
I know a client is making meaningful progress when they report successfully using skills that they learned in therapy. Anytime someone reports that therapy is helping them feel better, that is progress. When someone is able to incorporate new coping skills into daily life and see their own progress, that is meaningful. Even small positive changes to their perspective and behaviors will have a significant and meaningful impact on their life.
Clients can supplement their time in trauma therapy by reading articles or books to increase their knowledge and understanding. I often make suggestions or send links to articles that are specific to their needs or concerns. If you find information on your own, it is always a good idea to ask your therapist to confirm that the information is accurate, especially for information found on social media or online videos.
To prepare for your first therapy session, you can make a list of questions and/or concerns, bring a list of any medications that you are taking (prescription, OTC, and supplements), have a list of prior mental health treatments with dates and names if possible, and most of all be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be open to the idea exploring your thoughts and emotions.
At Thriveworks, Trauma/PTSD therapy involves dedicated efforts to address and navigate through past and/or recent traumatic events. Therapists specializing in trauma create a secure environment to process and heal from these experiences, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Our Thriveworks providers use Trauma/PTSD therapy treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, CBT, and exposure therapy with the goal of helping clients process the traumatic events they have experienced so that they can to start feeling safe and secure again.
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary but often include:
The best way to overcome PTSD triggers is to seek the assistance of a professional therapist, such as those at Thriveworks, who can help you to understand and treat your PTSD triggers.
In most cases, a therapist who specializes in Trauma/PTSD therapy is the best type of mental health professional to address the symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD/trauma therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
The success rate of therapy for PTSD depends entirely on the individual’s symptoms, commitment to attending sessions, and personal abilities.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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